"They're coming down on Friday and I can't wait to run out in the green and gold in front of them."

Sheens said he had been hopeful Thaiday would be able to play but the decision to rule him out was taken after he struggled to come through a fitness test at the Sydney Football Stadium on Monday morning.

"He did a little bit this morning and it tightened up a bit so we said no," Sheens said.

"Brisbane weren't too sure if he would be right, but we had to make a call early in the week and Sam was happy with that."

Sheens is yet to decide who will replace Thaiday in the starting line-up with interchange forward Boyd Cordner and Gillett both in contention to play.

"Both Boydy and Gillett are good players who have played State of Origin and both do a job if selected," he said.

North Queensland back Brent Tate will join the squad later in the week as the new 18th man.